Our readers and clients often ask, “How do I incorporate wine and spirits into my new lifestyle?” You’ll be happy to know that you have options! Many of the popular diets like keto, Weight Watchers and a vegan lifestyle allow for alcohol IN MODERATION.

I was invited to talk about lifestyle changes and alcohol on WGN-TV’s Midday Fix. If you’re trying to watch your waistline and are wondering how to exactly incorporate wine and spirits into your modified diet standards, here’s the skinny!

incorporate wine and spirits into your new lifestyle drinking while dieting
Click image above for a quick access list you can download & print of all wines, spirits and cocktails featured on WGN!

Low Sugar/Low Carb Diet

The good news is you have more options than you may think!

Sparkling wines: For those who love bubbles as much as I do, try a zero-dosage sparkling wine. We tasted one of my favorites on the show, the Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne. This wine has 60 calories vs the 100 calories of other Champagnes (still not bad). The wine is clean, bone dry, and balanced with fresh fruit and mineral flavors. This is lovely with grilled shrimp and oysters!

Spirits: An ounce of spirit (vodka, gin, rum…) has about 80 calories and zero carbohydrates. Cocktails tend to be high in sugar because of mixers. Instead of juice, try sparkling water, diet tonic or soda water. I like the Topo-Chico mineral water at zero grams of carbs and calories.

We featured the “Absolut Apple Bottom” cocktail made with the new Absolute Juice Apple Edition Vodka on the show. This refreshing and delicious spritzer has 78 calories and 2 grams of carbs.  

Low Calorie Diet

If you’re following a low-calorie diet, like Weight Watchers, avoid sweet wines and dessert wines which typically have 165 calories and around 7 carbs per serving. Instead, opt for dry wines which have about 100-130 calories and 2-3 grams of carbs per 4 ounce serving.

On the show we featured two delicious and affordable dry wines. The Cave de Lugny Chardonnay, Macon-Villages, Burgundy, France and the Curator Red Blend from Swartland, South Africa (Grapes: Shiraz, Mourvedre, Cinsault)

New Vegans

If you’ve decided to give up all things animal and happen to love wine, you should know that not all wines are Vegan-friendly. Vegan wines, like the Cosimo Maria Masini Matilde Rosé, don’t use an animal-based substance (such as egg whites or gelatin) to clarify the wine after fermentation, as some others do.

Note: Virtually all spirits (whiskey, vodka, gin…) are vegan!

Supporting Heart Health

Research shows that dry red wines are high in antioxidants such as resveratrol (also, about 4 ounces have 100-120 calories) and can have health benefits. “Studies have found that moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefits, including raising “good” HDL cholesterol levels and lowering the risk of diabetes.” Heart.ORG 5/2019

How else will you incorporate wine and spirits into your new lifestyle? Do share! For more wine, spirits and travel info, follow up on Instagram and Facebook @ShallWeWine.